Bottom-dump charging bucket and door closing mechanism therefor



Jan. 27, 1953 c MORGAN 2,626,828

BOTTOM-DUMP CHARGING BUCKET AND DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 2, 1946 S Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

INVENTOR 6/2 ar/es M01196 Jan. 27, 1953 c. MORGAN BOTTOM-DUMP CHARGING BUCKET AND DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1946 INVENTOR Chan/es Morgan 4 A Jan. 27, 1953 c. MORGAN 2,626,828

BOTTOM-DUMP CHARGING BUCKET AND DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 2 X A6 W 7 U m, M 772% Patented Jan. 27, 1953 BOTTOM-DUMP.oHARGING-BUQKE' T AND noon CLOSING MECHANISM THEREFOR Charles Morgan, Warren, Ohio, assignor to Copperweld Steel Company, Warren, Ohio, a cortporatio'n of Pennsylvania Application February 2, 1946, Serial-No. 645,107

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a charging bucket of the bottom-dump type, including a side wall and a bottom composed of a plurality of sector plates hinged to the side wall. 'In particular, the invention concerns means for 'releasably securing the sector plates in closed position and apparatus for swinging the plates from open to closed position.

One form of door-closing mechanism and a releasable latch for a bottom-dump charging bucket is disclosed in Hicks Patent 2350,611. lt'is an object of this invention "to improve on the patented construction and provides. simple, effective mechanism for closing the bottom plates of a bucket and releasably securing them in closed position. Particularly, it is an object of the invention to utilize the weight of the bucket for exerting the efiort necessary to close thesector plates, instead of relying on a manually applied force.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a trigger mechanism which may conveniently be mounted on one of the sector plates, for releasably holding a tension member, such as a chain, cable or the like, threaded through loops or hooks secured to the sector plates adjacent their apices. The trigger mechanism is adapted to be manually tripped when it is desired to discharge the contents of the bucket through the bottom thereof. The door-closing mechanism comprises a plurality of levers, one for each sector plate, pivoted at a point intermediate their ends and adapted to be engaged by the ap'ices of the sector plates as the bucket is'lowered. The bucket has bearing means thereon adapted to engage the outer end portions of the levers after the sector plates have been partially closed, whereby on further lowering of the bucket, the weight thereof is effective to force the sector plates into fully closed position, after which they may be secured therein by threading the tension member through the loops or hooks and setting the trigger mechanism.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following "detailed description and explanation thereof which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a bucket having the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the doorclosing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the parts when the bucket has been lowered to final position on the closing mechanism;

notched end 25 thereof.

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the doorclosing mechanism;

Figure 5 isa partial horizontal section through the bucket; and

Figure 6 is a partial section taken along the plane of line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a charging bucket HI comprises a side wall ll generally cylindrical, provided with a suitable suspending bail (notshown). The bottom of the bucket is composed of a plurality of sector plates or doors 12. Each sector plate has ears l3. A hinge pin Hi passes through alined holes in the ears [3 and a hinge bracket i5 secured to the side wall 'll adjacent the bottom thereof. Each bracket l5 has a downward extension providing a bearing portion it for a purpose which will appear shortly.

Each sector plate l2 has a loop or eye ii adjacent its apex through which a tension member such as achain 18 may be threaded to tie the apices of the several sector plates together, thereby 'holdingithem substantially in closed position.

.As shown in Figure 5,, one end of the chain is permanently attached to the eye of one sector plate designated. l2. The otherend of the chain has a ring l9 adapted to engage a hook end 26 .formed on an'arm 21 mounted below the sector plate 2. The arm M is journaled on a pin 22 extending through the spaced walls of a bearing block 23 bolted to the sector plate ii. A detent 24 is adapted to hold the arm 2| in substantially horizontal position by engagement with the The upper portion of the detent serves as a stop by engagement with block 23 to limit counterclockwise rotation of the detent. A'chain lit-extending outwardly beyond the side wall'oi the bucket permits the detent to weight tending to hold it in the illustrated position. The outer end of chain 26 may conveniently pass through'a hole'in a plate 28 secured to one of the supporting legs 29 extending downwardly from the side wall of the bucket.

It will be apparent that when the chain an is pulled, the tension on the chain [8 resulting from flies through the'eyes or loops ll. desired to reload the bucket, the sector plates must be returned substantially to horizontal position, the chain l8 rethreaded through the loops thereof and the arm 2| reset with the detent 24 after the ring l9 has been brought into engagement with the hook portion 20. For this purpose, I provide a door-closing mechanism shown more particularly in Figures 2. 3 and 4.

The door-closing mechanism indicated generally at 30 comprises a base ring 3| supported on a frame 32 fabricated from structural members, and radially disposed levers 33 pivotally mounted on the ring in circumferentially spaced relation. Each lever 33 comprises a top plate 34 and side plates 35. The pivotal mounting of each lever includes spaced brackets 36 extending inwardly from the ring 3| and a shaft 31 extending through alined holes in the brackets and side plates 35. A stop plate 38 extends inwardly from the ring 3| between the brackets 36 to engage the edges of the side plates 35 and hold the lever in inwardly down-tilted position. The pivot point of the lever is intermediate its ends and remote from both but nearer the outer than the inner end whereby the inner end tends to descend by gravity until the side plates 35 engage the stop plate 38.

When the bucket has been dumped, the sector plates forming the bottom take the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The downward extensions IS on the brackets I5 serve as stops to limit the outward movement of the sector plates. To close the sector plates, the bucket is suspended over the door-closing mechanism 31) with the apex of each sector plate alined with the outer end of one of the levers 33 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The bucket is then lowered until the apices of the sector plates strike the top plate 33 of the levers. Because of the downtilted position of the latter, the sector plates start to close as their apices slide down the top plates of the levers. After the bucket has been lowered a predetermined amount, the downward extensions [6 on the hinge brackets l5 engage the outer ends of the levers 33 as shown in Figure 3 and the weight of the bucket as it continues to be lowered thereupon becomes effective to swing the levers 33 upwardly, thus bringing the sector plates to substantially horizontally position. With the sector plates held horizontal, it is a simple matter to thread the chain l8 through the loops ll of the several plates by hand and secure the free end thereof to the hook portion 20 of the pivoted arm 2|. The bucket may thereupon be lifted from the door-closing mechanism and moved to the desired point for refilling. The levers 33, of course, descend to the positions illustrated in Figure 2, as the bucket is lifted therefrom. The legs 29 limit the downward movement of the bucket when it is placed on the door-closing mechanism by engagement with the ring 3| and also serve to support the bucket when it is set down elsewhere.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the trigger mechanism disclosed herein for releasably securing the end of the chain holding the sector plates in closed position is characterized by simplicity in construction and effectiveness in op-- eration. The pivoted arm to the hook end of which the chain is attached is safely held in latched position by the detent 24 at all times, regardless of the impact of material dumped into the bucket, thus guarding against accidental opening of the bucket. At the same time, the sector plates are immediately released when the detent 24 is shifted by pulling on the chain 26.

The resetting of the chain-holding mechanism. furthermore, may be effected easily and quickly.

The door-closing mechanism is particularly advantageous in that it utilizes the weight of the bucket to apply to the sector plates the force necessary to close them, thus obviating any manual effort except that invloved in threading the chain through the sector loops. The closing mechanism, furthermore, is simple and rugged in construction and requires no special care or attention. In fact, the only precaution to be observed is in respect to the approximate alinement of the apices of the sector plates with the several tilting levers before lowering the bucket onto the closing mechanism.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details of construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomdump charging bucket or the like, in combination, a rotatable arm pivotally connected to the bottom of said charging bucket or the like, a hook portion on said arm adapted to be engaged by a tension member tending to rotate said arm in a direction to release said tension member, and a detent pivotally connected to said bottom adjacent another portion of said arm, said detent being movable into latched position with said other portion of said arm between said detent and said bottom, and an extension on said detent to engage said bottom to prevent said arm from forcing said detent out of said latched position.

2. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomdump charging bucket or the like, in combination, a rotatable arm pivoted to the bottom of said charging bucket or the like, a hook portion on one extension of said arm adapted to be engaged by a tension member of said charging bucket or the like, a latch portion on another extension of said arm extending generally close to said bottom, and a detent connected to said bottom adjacent the end of said latch portion away from said pivot and adapted to be movable into and out of latching position relative to said latch portion, said pivot being positioned intermediate said hook portion and said latch portion.

3. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomdump charging bucket or the like, in combination, a rotatable arm pivoted to the bottom of said charging bucket or the like, a hook portion on one extension of said arm adapted to be engaged by a tension member of said charging bucket or the like, a latch portion on another extension of said arm extending generally close to said bottom, a detent connected to said bottom adjacent the end of said latch portion away from said pivot and adapted to be movable into and out of latching position relative to said latch portion, said pivot being positioned intermediate said hook portion and said latch portion, and means for normally maintaining said detent in latch portion engaging position.

4. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomdump charging bucket or the like, in combination, an arm pivotally connected to the bottom of said charging bucket or the like and adapted to have limited rotation between latching and unlatching positions, a hook portion on one extension of said arm adapted to be engaged by a tension member of said charging bucket or the like, a latching portion on another extension of said arm extending generally close to said bottom, and a detent pivotally connected to said bottom adjacent said latch portion and adapted to have a limited rotation to move it into and out of latching position relative to said latch portion, said latch portion and said detent bein so mounted as to turn substantially in the same direction duing unlatching.

5. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomdump charging bucket or the like having sector plate doors and a flexible tension member to hold said doors closed when looped around the apices thereof, in combination, an arm pivotally connected to the bottom of one of said sector plate doors by a generally horizontal pivot pin for 7 limited rotation between latching and unlatching positions, a hook portion on one extension of said arm adapted to be engaged by said tension member, a latching portion on another extension of said arm extending generally close to the bottom of said sector plate door, said latching portion being longer than said hook portion, a detent pivotally connected by a generally horizontal pivot pin to the bottom of said sector plate door adjacent the end of said latch portion away from said pivot pin for limited rotation into and out of latching postion relative to said end, said end and said detent in latching postion being in toggle joint relation under the pull of said tension member urging said end away from the bottom of said sector plate door.

6. In a door latching mechanism for a bottomolump charging bucket or the like having sector plate doors and a flexible tension member to hold said doors closed when looped around the apices thereof, in combination, an arm pivotally connected to the bottom of one of said sector plate doors by a generally horizontal pivot pin for limited rotation between latching and unlatching positions, a hook portion on one extension of said arm adapted to be engaged by said tension member, a latching portion on another extension of said arm extending generally close to the bottom of said sector plate door, said latching portion being longer than said hook portion, a detent pivotally connected by a generally horizontal pivot pin to the bottom of said sector plate door adjacent the end of said latch portion away from said pivot pin for limited rotation into and out or" latching position relative to said end, gravity means to maintain said detent in its latchin position, and means extending parallel to said bottom of said sector plate door to the side of said bucket for moving said detent to unlatching position.

CHARLES MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 537,258 Wilcox Apr. 9, 1895 1,490,874 Webb Apr. 15, 1924 1,563,949 Baker Dec. 1, 1925 2,163,386 Sweitzer June 20, 1938 2,228,060 Lescher et al. Jan. 7, 1941 2,338,617 Baker Jan. 4, 1944 2,350,611 Hicks June 6, 1944 2,387,457 McIlwrick et a1, Oct. 23, 1945 

